vis
newbie
Reged: 22/06/2008
Posts: 1
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Hi 
I have been using 350D since past 2 years for shooting mainly portraits and fashion. I avoid using 18-55 kit lens as I don't find it sharp enough, and mostly use 50 mm 1.8 lens.
Now I feel that I need to upgrade for achieving better results. I shoot portraits and fashion indoors mostly, but looking forward to shoot outdoor fashion as well. I want sharper results. I am not sure whether I should buy better lenses to be used with 350D or I should go for another camera all together, combined with better lenses.
Can you please guide me what could be a better option?
1) Better lenses to be used with 350D, in order to improve my picture quality- if yes, which ones?
2)Upgraded Camera in combination with good lenses- if yes, suggestions please.
Regards
Vis
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beejaybee
Marvin
Reged: 18/07/2007
Posts: 5271
Loc: Really Here In Name Only
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Quote:
1) Better lenses to be used with 350D, in order to improve my picture quality- if yes, which ones?
Yes. Though not a fashion photographer I'd tentatively suggest that the 24-70 f/2.8 L would be very suitable.
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El Sid
Going potty
Reged: 14/04/2003
Posts: 9543
Loc: Sussex-by-the-Sea
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Go for better lenses first. Even with digital cameras the lens is still the premier source of image quality. If the lens isn't top drawer it doesn't matter how expensive the camera is - technology can't put back sharpness and contrast that wasn't there to begin with.
If you think you may eventually upgrade to full frame or any 1D series camera then I agree that lenses such as the 24- or 28-70L are a good bet. If you intend to stay with APS format then the 17-55mm f2.8 IS is worth looking at too.
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Nigel
Completely BSRIPN 
ElSid Gallery
A camera in the hand is more fun than one in the cupboard........
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daft_biker
Action Man!
Reged: 11/10/2006
Posts: 7969
Loc: Doon the glen
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I doubt buying a zoom is going to improve quality over using a 50mm f/1.8. If anything the zoom will give lower quality results but more focal length option.....
...I'd get more prime lenses....35mm f/2 and 85mm f/1.8 maybe?
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Andrew (BSRIPN) ... Pics.
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OneTen
'Two Breakfasts'
Reged: 23/06/2003
Posts: 2661
Loc: Devon
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I would have thought the 350D and 50mm f1.8 combination would be capable of producing sharp results. What post processing/sharpening do you do? Do you shoot in RAW?
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Richard .......... My Website - My Flickr
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Wheelu
member
Reged: 31/10/2007
Posts: 186
Loc: UK, up North
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I speak as a 20D owner also considering an upgrade.
Having looked at numerous images it appears to me that the 5D does produce better looking images, even at web size, than the crop frame Canon bodies. It's not just about resolution, there is a better tonality too. I also feel that the 40D is a lot closer to this than the 20/30D, but still not quite there!
I would therefore suggest that you would see a noticeable improvement going from 350D to 40D or 5D. Of course you then get into the "should I wait for the 5D upgrade" scenario. This Autumn, perhaps..... 
Re the 24-70 L lens - I have one of these and it is not a particularly happy focal length range for a crop frame camera, although for head and shoulders portraiture it does find application. It is also very heavy. I guess that it would come into its own on the 5D, but there's got to be a better solution for crop frame.
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My Flickr Photos
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alanS
Dr Dust
Reged: 30/09/2005
Posts: 3726
Loc: Up North, England.
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I have a 20D and I'm not tempted yet. I'm happy with the few shots I've printed at A3, I'm not really bothered about live view or shots per second and I'm not bothered about scene modes.
The anti dust technology tempts me and I keep wondering if FF may be the way to go, better high ISO performance would be nice too but right now I'm not in any rush to change and the 20D will do.
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Alan's defence lawyer claimed that "Booze played no part in his typo's."
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beejaybee
Marvin
Reged: 18/07/2007
Posts: 5271
Loc: Really Here In Name Only
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Quote:
Having looked at numerous images it appears to me that the 5D does produce better looking images, even at web size, than the crop frame Canon bodies. It's not just about resolution, there is a better tonality too. I also feel that the 40D is a lot closer to this than the 20/30D, but still not quite there!
Hmmm, having both the 40D and the 5D, I don't find it easy to tell which images are from which camera....
Quote:
Re the 24-70 L lens - I have one of these and it is not a particularly happy focal length range for a crop frame camera, although for head and shoulders portraiture it does find application. It is also very heavy. I guess that it would come into its own on the 5D, but there's got to be a better solution for crop frame.
The other lens that cries out to be considered is the 24-105 f/4 L IS. It is lighter, and it's a very fine lens, but for fashion type work I would have thought that the extra stop speed might be more use than the extension at the tele end. I think I might find 70mm max restrictive on a full frame body, but I'm sure I could work with it on an APS-C camera. And I don't think I'd need anything wider than 40mm (full frame equivalent).
All the "L" lenses are full frame capable, so there is no loss of investment if you do eventually decide to go full frame.
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Wheelu
member
Reged: 31/10/2007
Posts: 186
Loc: UK, up North
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Quote:
I have a 20D and I'm not tempted yet. I'm happy with the few shots I've printed at A3.......
The anti dust technology tempts me and I keep wondering if FF may be the way to go, better high ISO performance would be nice too but right now I'm not in any rush to change and the 20D will do.
Yes, I've recently taken some shots of the grandson and they have came out very well indeed, there's life in the old 20D yet! But, I've always hankered after a 5D, as I do believe that the image quality is significantly better, while, for the type of photography that I enjoy, a true 24-70 spread would suit me most of the time. I might just indulge in a short telephoto prime for portraits.
Like you I have no need for scene modes or other gimmicks, but a 5DII with the higher resolution A/D converter, rather better sensor and A/F technology should see me out very nicely. 
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My Flickr Photos
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alanS
Dr Dust
Reged: 30/09/2005
Posts: 3726
Loc: Up North, England.
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Yes, and if it has a built in flash for use now and again I might just be tempted.
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Alan's defence lawyer claimed that "Booze played no part in his typo's."
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Wheelu
member
Reged: 31/10/2007
Posts: 186
Loc: UK, up North
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Quote:
Yes, and if it has a built in flash for use now and again I might just be tempted.
The 24-70 gets in the way of the light from the flash on the 20D so I rarely use the built in gun. A cheap secondhand Vivitar 283, 285 or 5600 (check the trigger voltage, some variants will fry the camera) does the job admirably however, and bouncing the light off a ceiling you get attractive, almost shadow free, results.
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My Flickr Photos
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Benchista
Wich Tyler
Reged: 11/08/2000
Posts: 38327
Loc: Everywhere and nowhere, baby
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Must say I've really not missed a built-in flash on the 5D. The low-light performance is such that you don't often need one, and when I do need a flash, I'm now forced to use one that provides better lighting. I hope they DON'T include one on the 5D replacement, TBH.
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Nick
www.nbrphoto.com
Light and Shade II - the new blog
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lisadb
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 05/09/2006
Posts: 1710
Loc: Staffs
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I have the 350D and 20D and they take smashing pics - if the light is good. Bad light/ISO above 400 = noise on both.  I'm presuming that in a studio the light will be good, so perhaps the 350D will last you a while yet and better lenses might be the way to go. Just consider what you might like to upgrade to eventually, as lenses designed for smaller sensors may not work properly on a FF camera.
I've just bought the 5D to hopefully improve the quality of my images - I take mainly landscapes, wildlife and macro and so quite often work with poor lighting conditions and higher ISOs. Lisa.
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wollemi - 'look around you, keep your eyes open and watch out' (Australian aboriginal word)
My Flickr page
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beejaybee
Marvin
Reged: 18/07/2007
Posts: 5271
Loc: Really Here In Name Only
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Quote:
I hope they DON'T include one on the 5D replacement, TBH.
I'll second that. Just one more thing to go wrong.
What changes do I want to see on the 5D replacement? Sensor cleaning; AF operation on the centre point to f/8; nothing else, really. I expect the sensor noise to be reduced, and the tone gradations to be smoothed by using a 14 bit ADC.
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OneTen
'Two Breakfasts'
Reged: 23/06/2003
Posts: 2661
Loc: Devon
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Quote:
Quote:
I hope they DON'T include one on the 5D replacement, TBH.
I'll second that. Just one more thing to go wrong.
What changes do I want to see on the 5D replacement? Sensor cleaning; AF operation on the centre point to f/8; nothing else, really. I expect the sensor noise to be reduced, and the tone gradations to be smoothed by using a 14 bit ADC.
+ C1, C2, C3 ...etc.
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Richard .......... My Website - My Flickr
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alanS
Dr Dust
Reged: 30/09/2005
Posts: 3726
Loc: Up North, England.
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I'd rather have a flash than a back dominating review screen, I'd put the buttons to the side of the screen rather than underneath and I'd drop the scene modes.
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Alan's defence lawyer claimed that "Booze played no part in his typo's."
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AGW
Reged: 03/10/2003
Posts: 7845
Loc: Ayrshire
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A wee mechanical shutter in the viewfinder, just like the old A1.
Graeme
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AGW (BSRIPN)
Blessed are they who see beautiful things in humble places where others see nothing. (Camille Pissarro)
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Benchista
Wich Tyler
Reged: 11/08/2000
Posts: 38327
Loc: Everywhere and nowhere, baby
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Quote:
I'd rather have a flash than a back dominating review screen, I'd put the buttons to the side of the screen rather than underneath and I'd drop the scene modes.
Well Canon have beaten you to it - there aren't any scene modes on the 5D.
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Nick
www.nbrphoto.com
Light and Shade II - the new blog
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beejaybee
Marvin
Reged: 18/07/2007
Posts: 5271
Loc: Really Here In Name Only
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Quote:
A wee mechanical shutter in the viewfinder, just like the old A1.
Yes, I'll second that. The rubber thingy on the strap is monstrously inconvenient.
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El Sid
Going potty
Reged: 14/04/2003
Posts: 9543
Loc: Sussex-by-the-Sea
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Isn't it just. I tried it, once..............
Now I just use manual metering or hang a cap over the camera... 
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Nigel
Completely BSRIPN
ElSid Gallery
A camera in the hand is more fun than one in the cupboard........
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